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Valmikis protest at Bhandari Bridge
Markets flooded with China-made ‘pichkaris’
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It's easy to make eco-friendly colours by using spices
Resentment among Home Guards
1 kg of heroin seized from youth
186 penalised for violation of smoking ban
Over 100 fishes perish for want of oxygen
For reunion with roots, Raza Murad leaves for Pak
GNDU Professor joins UGC as Secretary
GNDU holds lecture on Punjabi language
Tarn Taran resident duped of Rs 4.25 lakh
Sports, cultural fest begins
‘Sohni Mahiwal’ staged at theatre fest
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Valmikis protest at Bhandari Bridge
Amritsar, March 15 Not only this, several agitators allegedly thrashed a couple of passesr-by during the protest. They were protesting over the alleged possession of 11-acre land where Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had laid the foundation stone of a Valmiki Temple. The agitation led to utter traffic chaos on the city roads for almost one hour. The commuters especially those commuting by four-wheelers remained at the receiving end as they
got stuck in the traffic congestion. A baptised Sikh youth, identified as Jasmeet Singh, who works in a shop located in the Deen Dyal Upadhaya Market, was intercepted and thrashed by a group of agitators. The incident occurred just a few metres away from his shop. The police team on the spot, however, remained a mute spectator and did nothing to stop them. They intervened only after the culprits relented for a minute when the victim took out Sri Sahib (small kirpan worn by the baptised Sikhs as a dress code). Anguished Jasmeet Singh even threatened to commit suicide in front of the Golden Temple if the authorities failed to take any action against the accused persons who fell his turban. Giani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar Akal Takht, also issued a statement and criticised the police inaction on the spot. He asked the Police Department to take stringent action against the accused cops who failed to perform their duty and remained mute spectators to the whole incident. The police officials later arrested one of the accused while they said raids were being conducted to nab the remaining culprits. The onlookers alleged that the accused also thrashed a couple who were going towards the Bhandari Bridge. The protest started at around 12 noon when various factions of the Valimki community gathered under the banner of the All-India Dalit Community Action Committee. Dr Inderpal chairman of committee also condemned the incident while clarifying that they were holding peaceful protest and had intimated the administration in this connection. He said that action should be initiated against those who created rukus and beaten up the Sikh youth. In view of the protest, the police official diverted the traffic and blocked the elevated road and other roads leading to Bhandari Bridge. From crystal chowk, the police diverted the traffic towards Hussainpura Bridge leading the traffic chaos on the bridge. The same scene was witnessed beneath the elevated road. Senior police officials reached the Bhandari Bridge and tried to pacify the agitators. The dharna was lifted after SDM Vimal Setia reached the spot and assured them to take up their demands with the state government. The Valimiki communities handed over a memorandum of the SDM in this regard. The demand
Dr Inderpal pointed out that the land where the CM Parkash Singh Badal had laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Valmiki temple belonged to the panchayat of village Kaler. He said that land has been under the possession of the
Guru Gian Nath Ashram for past three decades where the ashram grows the crops for the Langar of the devotees. He said they government had asked the district administration to solve the issue amicably but he said nothing concrete has been done so far. The controversy has erupted over the construction Ram Tirath temple project after several organisations of Valmiki community refused to give land to the Punjab government for the purpose. The Punjab government has organised a huge programme few months ago at the said disputed land and a foundation stone was laid by the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for the construction of the temple at the cost of Rs 125 crore.
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Markets flooded with China-made ‘pichkaris’
Amritsar, March 14 Their most 'unholy' practice accounts for selling sub-standard China-made pichkaris (water toy guns), chemical colour sprays and dry- coloured powders in different parts of the city. The Amritsar administration hasn’t bothered to intervene and stop the practice, which is harmful to people’s health. Companies are playing smart with carrying disclaimers. Shirking their responsibility, the manufacturers have merely pasted warning stickers on colours so that in case of a mishap they cannot be blamed. Packaged colours warn “for industrial use only” and China-made water guns carry “harmful choking warning" not to be used by children below three years tags abound. The companies plan to evade any legal implication. What do the traders say?
Those involved in selling these products justify by saying that the good-quality colour come at an exorbitant price, having very little profit margin. “So, what can we do when people prefer to buy cheap ones. Good-quality gulal is four times costlier than the chemical one. We have branded, good quality
gulals, too, but people generally get discouraged after knowing their price. The chemical ones can be had by spending less than Rs 50. We, too, get a good margin in it, so both ways its happy going,” said a shopkeeper. Buyers too to be blamed
Buyers, too, on the other hand, choose to turn a blind eye to the dangers involved in using such colours and settle for low-price tags. What do the experts say?
Experts suggest that pastes contain highly toxic chemicals, resulting in a severe health outcome. Powdered
colours, in vibrant shades, which we get from the market, could actually be poisoned urea. China rules as far as the supply of cheap pichkaris is concerned. Safety measures
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It's easy to make eco-friendly colours by using spices
Amritsar, March 15 A wide array of colours can be prepared at home using araroot, hena, rattanjot and turmeric powders and annato seeds. Even different shades of colours could be made using different proportions of these ingredients. The biggest and foremost advantage of these colours is that they do not harm the skin in any way. And even if they somehow enter a child's mouth while playing Holi, there is no harm as all ingredients are already used in some or other common recipes. Flowers of marigold, amaltas, tesu, rind of pomegranate, rhizome of turmeric for yellow shade, slice of beetroot for deep pink or magenta, madder and golden-drop roots for deep red, henna leaves for green, annatto seeds for orange and jacaranda flowers for blue can be used. Even rose and dailian can be mixed to impart fragrance to the colours To make a dry powder, these sources can be mixed in base ingredients as besan, arraroot and rice powder. Two or more of these ingredients can be mixed to prepare a colour. The choice and variety of colours would depend on one?s creativity and imagination. For wet solution these can be mixed in water, soaked overnight to get a deep color. The system of deriving organic colours from kitchen ingredients was studied and complied by the Departments of Clothing and Textiles, Home Science at Punjab Agricultural University The paediatrician, Dr Sandeep Aggarwal, said, "Chemical colours are harmful as a child's skin is very sensitive.” Some of the basic colour combinations
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Resentment among Home Guards
Amritsar, March 15 They said they would just get Rs 90 per day during the poll duty. Notably, there are about 18,000 Home Guards jawans in the state. Each of them gets a daily remuneration of Rs 400. They are an integral part of the security system but they are not getting the facilities, wages and benefits extended to the regular security forces. Meanwhile, a delegation of the PHG jawans met BJP vice-president Lakshmi Kanta Chawla and urged her to take up their cause with the state government. She said if a PHG jawan worked for all days in a month, he would become eligible for a remuneration of Rs 12,000 per month. She said the jawans were discharging services on a par with regular Punjab police personnel but they had been denied regular wages and other benefits. She said during the poll duty, the PHG jawans would be deployed in sensitive areas and their life would be in danger. However, no insurance cover or social welfare scheme have been extended to them for the well-being of their families in case of any accident. "I have spoken to Punjab Home Guards DGP GD Pandey over the phone and told him that the Home Guards jawans were not being paid regular salary," She said. The DGP had assured to look into the matter, she added.
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1 kg of heroin seized from youth
Amritsar, March 15 The police have arrested Paramveer Singh, alias Raja of Paris Avenue, located on San Sahib Road in Chheharta. He was arrested from the Gumanpura area near the Chheharta railway crossing. Jatinder Singh Aulakh, Police Commissioner, said during interrogation, the accused stated that he had been in the illegal trade for the past two and a half years. He said he had at least five permanent customers to whom he used to sell narcotics. The police had registered a case under various sections of the NDPS Act against him. He said he was earlier booked by the Sarhali police (Tarn Taran) on similar charges and had remained in jail and he was currently was out on bail. He said the Police Department was also trying to identify the source of the heroin and to whom it was to be distributed later. He added that the police would also investigate into the movable or immovable properties owned by him or his family members during the past six years.
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186 penalised for violation of smoking ban
Amritsar, March 15 District Health Officer Dr Shivkaran Singh Kahlon said challans were issued to the people found smoking at public places and vendors selling tobacco products near educational institutions. Kahlon said the department had constituted a special team to enforce the ban. He said all state government departments had been requested to penalise the people found violating the ban near their offices and challan books were issued to them. All cigarette vends operating near educational institutions were identified and penalised, Kahlon said. The Health Department is also contemplating to launch an awareness drive to educate people about the harmful effects of tobacco products and the ban on their use at public places. Dr Kahlon said they were planning to paste stickers on vehicles besides installing hoardings to spread awareness on the issue.
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Over 100 fishes perish for want of oxygen
Amritsar, March 15 “The casual approach of officials has resulted in the death of a large number of fishes," they said. They said CM Parkash Singh Badal had laid the foundation stone of the Valmiki temple to be constructed at a cost of of Rs 115 crore during a state-level function on the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Valmiki on October 18 last year.It is believed that Valmiki composed the Ramayana and offered shelter to Sita after she was banished from Ayodhya here. It is also believed that Sita gave birth to Luv and Kush here. Ajnala SDM Surinder Singh said the matter was brought to his notice yesterday and the motor was repaired today. He said he did not know the exact number of fishes that perished for want of oxygen.
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For reunion with roots, Raza Murad leaves for Pak
Amritsar, March 15 "My paternal aunt, who is about 90-years now, will be meeting me after a gap of a lifetime. The last time I met her, I was a child, now I am a grandad," shared the actor. Raza will be travelling to Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad to visit his relatives. "I was planning to take this visit for long, but every time it could not materialise. This time I made sure that I crossed the border and reconnected with my family." He emphasised the fact that he would be meeting some of his cousins for the first time."Relations between the two countries have been so unpredictable that its almost impossible sometimes for people to reach out to their shared roots. The same happened with me. Now that the borders have been relaxed, I did not want to miss out on this oppurtunity," he said. Though he maintains that artistes are cultural ambassadors and so his visit to Pakistan will not be without tbe responsibility. " As a representative of my artistic community, I am also goi ng with an intension of spreading the message of love, peace and goodwill. We enjoy popularity and love on both sides of the border and so are beyond goegraphical boundaries." The artiste in him keeps him politically nuetral, but he did comment on AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal's recent media bashing. " I believe media in every country enjoys freedom of expression and should function independently. To scrutinise the media in totality is not a wise thing to do." The actor, who claims to be always on the move, said that he had lot of exciting things going on career-wise, but not until this trip was over. " Right now I want to enjoy and savour every moment I get with my family in Pakistan."
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GNDU Professor joins UGC as Secretary
Amritsar, March 14 He said he would continue to work for the development of the university. He had introduced the India's first clinical MD and PhD in sports medicine. He is also the first sports medicine consultant who became the fellow of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, India. He is also the first and the only Indian who has been awarded the fellowship of International Federation of Sports Medicine since 1928. He has more than 200 research papers to his credit. He has been associated with the Government of India, NAAC and the UGC for many projects for the past 10 years. He is also the member of the high-powered committee constituted by the Government of India to set up National Institute of Sports Sciences and Medicine.
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GNDU holds lecture on Punjabi language
Amritsar, March 15 A large number of faculty members and students were present on the occasion. Prof Balwant Singh Dhillon, director of the department, welcomed the guest speaker and others. Prof SS Khara, head of the School of Punjabi Studies, presented the vote of thanks. Prof Gulzar Singh Kang conducted the stage. Prof Sangera said due to the hard work and dedication, Punjabis had succeeded everywhere. "It was due to their nature that Punjabis have carved a niche for themselves in Canada. Earlier, the Punjabis never took to their language seriously but now it has become a source of livelihood," he said.
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Tarn Taran resident duped of Rs 4.25 lakh
Amritsar, March 15 He said he came into contact with the accused, who introduced himself as Rajesh Kumar through a website where Rajesh had registered himself for a job. He said Kumar claimed himself to be an inter-mediator of the company. Interestingly, he remained in contact through emails and SMSes, adding that he met him only once while handing over the money and that, too, at Coimbatore. He said he was neither picking up his calls nor answering his e-mail or SMSs. Salwant Singh lodged a complaint with the Crime Branch and also the Ministry of Manpower besides the Singapore Government. He also filed a complaint with Punjab helpline 181 and urged the authorities to conduct a thorough probe.
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Amritsar, March 15 The five-day festival commenced on March 13. Many renowned personalities of the entertainment industry such as Diljit Dosanjh, Jazzy B, Satinder Sartaj and Neeti Mohan will take part in the festival.— TNS
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‘Sohni Mahiwal’ staged at theatre fest
Amritsar, March 15 Bringing on stage the story of two young lovers who immortalised the true love, the play had all essential elements such as love, passion, agony, despair, rejection and finally death. The play was directed by Rishi Pal, an eminent film and television personality. "These love stories have come down to us through folk tales, films and plays. The concept of love has changed with every generation but it is an essential aspect of our existence. Despite oppression and hatred, the love remained unconquered," he said. Rishi Pal has also directed plays like "Ananya", "Monalisa Ki Smile" and "Nagamandala". The Faith in Theatre is his brainchild, which works to promote folk art forms and theatre.
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Provide bus service from GNDU to other city areas
For the convenience of students and staff, the authorities concerned should provide a direct bus service from Khalsa College and Guru Nanak Dev University to Hall Gate, Golden Temple, Durgiana Mandir, Gurdwara Shahidan, Ranjit Avenue, Rattan Singh Chowk, Chowgawan bypass, Ajnala bypass, Fatehgarh Churian bypass, Majitha bypass and Khazana Gate. The city residents and people from surrounding areas face inconvenience in the absence of the much-needed bus service. Daljit Singh, Amritsar
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Holi marks the advent of spring and ideally the colours used to celebrate it reflect various hues of the season, yet modern times have transformed the festivities into something cruel.
As harmful effects of chemical colours are well known and even though a few brands are claiming to be selling eco-friendly
colours, it is not difficult to make organic colours at home using every-day kitchen ingredients.
A wide array of colours can be prepared at home using araroot, hena, rattanjot and turmeric powders and annato seeds.
The delay in repairing the electric motor releasing fresh water into the holy pond of the Ram Tirath temple has resulted in the death of a large number of fishes for want of oxygen. Representatives of various shrines in the Ram Tirath area said over 100 fishes had perished for want of oxygen in the pond. They alleged that the motor had turned dysfunctional a month ago but the department
concerned did not take note of it.
Fulfilling a childhood dream and reconnecting with his family's roots across the border, actor Raza Murad along with his wife Samina crossed over the Wagah border. Travelling to Pakistan, the actor was overwhelmed at the prospect of meeting with his aunt after 53 years.
Amritsar, March 14
The Faith in Theatre group from Haryana staged the play, "Sohni
Mshiwal", during the National Theatre Festival at Virsa Vihar today. Bringing on stage the story of two young lovers who immortalised the true love, the play had all essential elements such as love, passion, agony, despair, rejection and finally death.
